Best tourist destinations in India

Tourists go to the top spots to see in India. The best tourists destinations are in the state of Tamil Nadu. Read this     http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/TN-top-tourist-destination-in-2014/articleshow/48092486.cms

India's population--sunken in poverty

The mass of population is deeply sunken in poverty. Impoverishment came from 900 years of foreign rule--firstly by Afghans and then by British. At foreigners like Muhhamad of Ghazni who was from Afghanistan only interested in looting India's wealth. And then there were who wanted tributes and wanted to rule India..like Muhhamad Ghori. He defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second battle of Tarrain and established his rule over India.That was the end of free India. Indian peasant had to pay largest part of his produce from the land to the Afghan ruler. Artisans,masons and workers would risk loosing their lives, if they did not convert to Islam.Hindu priests or Brahmins were tortured till they converted and sang to the tunes of the rulers. It was 700 years of terror. And the Indian peasant became poorer and poorer. Then came the white skinned rulers-the British. They did not take the produce of the peasant as tax, they insisted that the peasant sell his produce and give the tax in terms of money. Their introduction of monetary economy impoverished the peasant further and further. For about 200 years, British ruthlessly looted the peasant population of India.
Read about the phenomenon of famine during the British rule.Please copy and paste this urlhttp://yourstory.com/2014/08/bengal-famine-genocide/

And now in free India, they are still poor. So if the poor are having unhealthy lives because of poverty, we can expect this.
Please read this;copy and paste this urlhttp://www.geographyandyou.com/component/content/article/32-featured-stories/3788-study-proves-indian-children-are-wasting-by-rising-food-prices.html

India-explore and enjoy

There are plenty of historical places and natural wonders in India.One must have the spirit of exploration and zeal to take up journeys. While planning for such travels, one can watch these videos, one can copy and paste these urls
http://adityapathak.net/2015/06/09/gwalior-fort-video/

http://adityapathak.net/category/history-2/

Future: whether digital India would pull us out of the pit

India is suffering from poverty, from lack of infrastructure, from lack of firm government, lack of good policies and so on and on. There is a possibility that if we bring in technology fast, there is a possibility of a great escape from the mess. It depends great deal on how "tech"men's  implementation.If they laze around and do not swiftly bring about digitization, we will be lost forever. If we implement it fast, we can become a great nation.

Poverty in India..why?

India is poor today because of centuries of impoverishment caused by foreign rules (British for 200 years and Afghans for 700 years) Peasant was always kept poor. And somehow he evolved social practices to live with poverty...living on minimum. Present government also tries to perpetuate poverty, it gives rights to capitalists to exploit the poverty stricken people. Social history goes on repeating itself. Poor are getting poorer. There are case studies to prove how the poor go on tolerating impoverishment
http://www.epw.in/system/files/pdf/2015_50/26-27/Debt_Bondage_and_the_Tricks_of_Capital.pdf

New way to allocate mines--auctions

We have abundance of minerals, question is who would mine them.And now a more new manner has been found. On March 20,2015, it was ruled that auction would be held to allocate mines.Auction would be the only way of obtaining mines of minerals

Both Houses of Parliament Pass the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill

Parliament has passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2015 today.  This Bill amends certain provisions of the MMDR Act, 1957. The Amendment Bill, 2015, became necessary to address the emergent problems in the mining industry. In the last few years, the number of new Mining Leases granted in the country has fallen substantially. In addition, second and subsequent renewals have also been affected by certain Supreme Court judgements. As a result, the output in the mining sector has come down drastically, leading to import of minerals by users of those minerals. The salient provisions of the Amendment Bill are as follows:

Removal of discretion: auction to be sole method of allotment

The Amendment removes discretion in the grant of mineral concessions. All mineral concessions are granted by the respective State Governments. They will continue to do so but all grants of mineral concessions would be through auctions, thereby bringing in greater transparency and removing discretion. This should also mean that the Government will get an increased share from the mining sector. Unlike in the 1957 Act, there would be no renewal of any mining concession. The tenure of mineral concessions has been increased from the existing 30 years to 50 years. Thereafter, all Mining Lease would be put up for auction (and not for renewal as in the earlier system).

Impetus to the mining sector

Continued operations in the mining industry have been affected due to the pendency of applications for second and subsequent renewals.  In fact, this pendency has led to closure of large number of mines. The Amendment Bill, 2015 addresses this issue also. To provide a transition to the new system, Sub-Sections (5) and (6) of Section 8A of the Amendment Bill have been included by which Mining Leases would be deemed to be extended from the date of their last renewal upto 31^st March, 2030 (in the captive miners) and till 31^st March, 2020 (for the merchant miners) or till the completion of the period of renewal already granted, if any, whichever is later.   It is expected that this would immediately permit mines that have got closed due to want of decisions on their applications for second and subsequent renewals to start their operations, subject to the necessary clearances like forest and environment.

Safeguarding interests of affected persons

The Amendment Bill makes it mandatory to establish a District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in all districts where mining takes place. This is designed to address a long time grievance of civil society that people affected by mining are not cared for.   Contribution to the DMF of an amount not exceeding one-third of the royalty rate in so far as new concessions to be granted by auction are concerned and not exceeding the royalty in respect of existing concessions has been provided for. The Bill also makes it mandatory for State Governments, while framing rules to give effect to the DMF, to conform to the provisions of such Acts as the Panchayats (Extensions to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 as well as provisions of the Constitution relating to Fifth and Sixth Schedule areas.

Encouraging exploration and investment

Indian mining industry has not seen the type of exploration as in other countries. To address this, the Amendment proposes to setup a National Mineral Exploration Trust created out of contribution from the mining lease holders. This would allow the Government to have a dedicated fund for undertaking exploration. In addition, the transferability provision (in respect of Mining Leases to be granted through auction) would permit flow of greater investment to the sector and increasingefficiency in mining.

Simplification of procedures and avoidance of delay

In respect of ten minerals in Part C of First Schedule (like iron ore, manganese, bauxite, copper, gold, etc.), State Governments needed to obtain the prior approval of the Central Government before grant of mineral concessions. The Amendment removes the need for such “prior approval” from the Central Government, thereby making the process quicker and simpler. Similarly, approval of mining plan by the Government would no longer be mandatory as a proviso has been added under Section 5(2)(b) permitting the State Governments to devise a system for filing of a mining plan obviating need for prior approval by the Government.

Stringent provisions against illegal mining

All offences under the Act will now be subject to a maximum punishment of 5 years imprisonment or fine of Rs. 5.00 lakhs per hectare.  State Governments are also empowered to set up Special Courts for speedy trial of offences under the Act.

The salient provisions of the Amendment Bill are as follows:

Ø  All mineral concessions will be granted only through auction {Sections 10 B &11}.

Ø  Direct auction for mining leases for bulk minerals; auction of prospecting licences-cum-mining leases for deep-seated minerals {Sections 10 B & 11}.

Ø  Uniform lease period of 50 years; no renewals; auction at the end of lease period; will solve problems arising out of SC judgments on second and subsequent renewals {Section 8 A}.

Ø  Transition period of minimum 15 years for captive mines and 5 years for other mines; no sudden stoppage as a result of the Amendment {Section 8 A (5) and (6)}.

Ø  All pending applications at State level (over 60 thousand) will abate except in a few cases where action is in progress/vested right exists {Section 10A}.

Ø  Central Government empowered to prescribe deadlines for various processes and to issue binding directions to States {Section 20 A}.

Ø  Central Government to frame separate rules for atomic minerals {Section 11 (B)}.

Ø  The previous approval of the Central Government will not be required for grant of mineral concession except for Atomic Minerals {Amendment to Section 5(1)}.

Ø  Enabling powers for reservation for the public sector to continue {Section 17 A}.

Ø  Higher penalties and jail terms for offences; special courts may be constituted, if necessary {Amendment to Section 21(1) & (2)}. .

Ø  District Mineral Foundation to take care of people and areas affected by mining {Section 9 (B)}.

Ø  National Mineral Exploration Trust to be set up for impetus to exploration {Section 9 (C)}.

Ø  Easy transferability of concessions obtained through auctions so as to attract private investment and FDI {Section 12 (A)}.

Ø  Powers to Central Government to intervene even where State Governments do not pass orders within prescribed time lines; this will eliminate delay {Section 30}.

Earthquake in Indian subcontinent

Earthquake struck twice within a span of two weeks in the Indian subcontinent. No damages in India. In Nepal thousands lost their lives. Many were injured and many many lost their homes.It does worry us greatly. When it would strike or how strong it would strike, all this is wild guess. Himalayan plate is moving and that is bad news for us We do not know what to save. First we have to save our lives. We moved out of our buildings. But for how long. Many in Nepal started living in tents on their fields. They think that would be safer.We think historical monuments are important. How to save them? We can only photo document them for posterity. Our living is too history for those of the future. So our present homes and offices are to be saved too. I guess we have to photo document that too. We have to know what is important now.TO KNOW WHEN THE QUAKE WOULD COME IS IMPORTANT.Doing geological investigations is important.

This is an old mosque whose vault is broken.This photo was taken at Ugresan baoli at CP,New Selhi